Thirty-seven years ago tonight my life changed forever. I have posted here in the past, usually around this date and again in early February.
On this date 37 years ago my brother set himself on fire and lived for 43 days. Today they put you in a medically induced coma for such an event, but back then not so much.
It has gotten better for me across the years. It is still the worst thing that ever happened to me. But I do not have to will every breath I take. I don’t wake up crying from my nightmares.
I do know now my brother made a choice and it was not my fault. I know he did not wish us pain or harm. I believe he was exhausted from a life of too many secrets and maybe a bit too much alcohol. He shared himself for as long as he could.
Each of us here are on our own journey, but these pages keep us from being alone. Keep coming here. Seek help. Journal. Talk. Nurture yourself. Wrap up in a blanket on the couch. If that is all you can do, that is enough. You are more than enough.
We have each stood in the unfathomable moment of being told or finding the body. We have thought over and over, “I cannot survive this.”
I am here to say breathe. Keep breathing. Keep coming back here.

I lost my brother today. I feel so broken. I don’t know how to navigate life without him. My only brother. My heart hurts so bad and everyone keeps telling me to be strong and it will be okay but I can’t be strong and I feel like nothing will ever be okay again.

Subject: From Womb to 39
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We shared the same classes, friends, cars, jobs…I am clueless how to do life without you. I’m now a twineless twin, after 39 years.9 months have passed, time is standing still and moving too fast. Half of my DNA, heart and soul were roughly ripped away from me on 3/17/23…The day both of us died. Physically, only you.

This pain is far too intense. The antidepressants take the edge off a little.

I’m so sorry we had such a tough upbringing and depression ended up taking your life. I could never ever be mad at you for leaving me. I was there first hand to witness everything in your life that brought you to that moment in the woods.

We had such big plans. I’ll try to keep them going alone.

Sis, I love and miss you more than I could have never imagined. I will find you one day, wherever you are. You will always be my #1!

5 months ago today. I feel like I have so much to get off my chest but I can’t find the words. I keep beating myself up about our last few years together…. I knew we both had scars, but I never expected to get that call. You had so much to live for… just a couple weeks before you’d talked me out a funk with your typical irreverent and hilarious wit. So many memories that I share with only you…. they’re only mine now I guess. I always pictured us getting old together with rocking chairs and shot guns on a porch sipping sun tea in the morning and home brew in the evening telling stories to the grandchildren. Second hand lions style… I’m doing my best for mom and baby sis and kids. I hope it’s enough. I hope I’m making you proud little brother. I miss you like hell but I hope you’re at peace. I hope that money I left with you was enough to pay the ferryman.

It was my birthday and instead of a phone call wishing me happy birthday I got a phone call that you you were dead. I replay that day in my head constantly when I am alone yet try my best to forget it . Instead of eating birthday cake I cleaned up the mess that you made. My birthday is no longer my birthday but a reminder of you taking your own life, I don’t even know how old I am anymore because that birthday went black. I hate my birthday . The day of my birthday and three days before dad’s birthday, twenty one days before Christmas you took your life by a gun. I was so angry, upset and confused when it first happened I could not grasp my head as to WHY DID YOU DO THIS? WHY!! I knew that you were dealing with some demons but you seemed better. You were coming around more often, but then you did this. I’ve learned that I will never get the answer as to why you did this – why didn’t you wish me a happy birthday, why didn’t you just come over , why did you do this? So I’ve learned to accept it . But dad has gotten really bad. He’s turned to drinking and worse after grandma died. He is still blaming her for your suicide and he is still angry. He’s talked about suicide and I went into a spiral. Your mom tries to come with gifts signed by you, but no type of money will bring you back or make this okay. I miss you so much and I wish I could just get my one question answered. Please look over mom and dad… please please please. I can’t handle any more hurt or leaving. Please just do that for me. Keep them healthy and protected so I can have them here longer.

It is killing me to write this letter. I know I have to because I need to do something to help me not go crazy. I am heartbroken. The little things it takes to do take 1,000,000 % of effort. Why? Why did you have to do this.? There was another way. We are a small family as it is. Now we’re smaller. The last time we talked I heard the pain in your voice. Why didn’t you just say Chris, I need you big brother. I would have been there. I feel like this is a sick joke. I’m never going to be the same again. I will never know what it feels like not to hurt. People can say it’s not my fault but it doesn’t help. I’m angry, sad, distraught all at the same time. I have to be the man of our family ALONE NOW!!!!! THIS WAS NOT HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE!!!!! OUR DAD IS SICK. OUR MOM WORKS AND IS TRYING TO PURSUE HER DREAM AS A NURSE! WE HAVE AN AUNT THAT ONLY HAS US!!!!! AND YOU LEAVE!!!!!!!! I feel terrible for feeling angry but I do. I know you were struggling. You must have been in a lot of pain. All you had to do was call. Why didn’t you just call? We could have got through this together. As a team. As brothers. Now it’s me. All I can think about is the good times. Those times bring me pain. I can’t look at your pictures. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to. I don’t know if I’ll ever be truly understood because of this situation. People say there is nothing I could have done..maybe that’s true. I just wished we could have talked. Maybe I could have gotten you help….I know as a kid you suffered from dyslexia. I hated that for you. I don’t know if kids made fun of you or not but I would have beat them up for you. God this hurts. Why are we allowed to feel this kind of pain? I know your will be done but I am in so much hurt it is almost unbearable. I was supposed to protect you. I feel like I failed you. How can I inspire so many others on YouTube but the one person I wanted to get through, I couldn’t. Nobody will ever know how that feels. I really don’t even want to talk because I’m just repeating myself and I know most people can’t understand. God is my strength but I am barely holding on. This is my new normal. I see why people get high and stay high. To feel numb. This pain is something different. This situation is unique. I don’t even really want to talk about it any more. I don’t know..I am just lost.